The community library in Pilot Point celebrated its 50th birthday with an updated library card designed by the community.
After a design competition open to all ages, PPISD student Kendra Light’s horse country inspired design came out on top, netting her the $250 grand prize.
“I did something that was inspired by all the things I think about when I think of Pilot Point,” Light said. “Maybe when I graduate and leave here, I’ll leave something behind. I love the library and love art, so it was a good opportunity for me.”
Light volunteers at the library for her National Honor Society hours and plans to put the prize money to use paying for her dual credit classes at school.
“I’m putting it towards my dual credit classes, but some of it hopefully will go towards some new clothes or art supplies too,” Light said. “Whenever I first moved here, my mom always wanted to me to be more involved with the library and I’ve always been interested in fantasy and fiction book, so I’ve always seen the library as a second home.”
Library Director Jenna Glass said the new cards, which will have a wallet and keychain variant, are one of the ways she’s tried to update the library since she took the position last year.
“They’re already in the mail, so if you come to the library during the summer and want to change out your card, we should have them stocked by then,” Glass said.
She spoke about some of the other ways she’s worked to prepare the library for the community’s growth.
“Within my first year here as director, I’ve tried really hard to reach out to new groups, update some of our systems and make it easier for people to come in and use the library,” Glass said. “Within the next few years, we’ll have to do a master plan for the library, which will be very exciting. I think that will help guide us as to what we’ll need to do to prepare, but eventually we’ll need to look at alternate locations.”
She mentioned several options for alternate locations short of an all new building including book mobiles and book vending machines.
The event featured a bounce house and face painting station for kids.
“Any event in the area to meet people is always fun,” community member Kristin Bourg said. “We saw there was face painting and bounce houses, and my daughter loves books. We actually go to the Aubrey one more because it’s closer to our house, but hopefully we’ll be coming to this one more now. She loves [the kid’s room]. We never saw that before, but with all the paintings, we were using them like a seek and find.”
In addition to the families in attendance, several other members of the community, chamber of commerce and Friends of the Library board mingled in the space.
“Libraries are so important to communities and make communities better, and we have a beautiful library with an awesome director and staff, so I’m glad for the exposure,” board member Amy Lanier said. “Hopefully, we can continue to do some of these things.”
She shared the best ways the community can ensure the library gets the love it needs to keep growing alongside the community.
“We need to use it, come to events and participate in programs,” Lanier said. “The community needs to express their support to our council, mayor and city staff. We need to let the city know how important the library is to us.”
The library has one of its most involved programs coming up soon with summer reading.
“As soon as we’re wrapped up with this event, we’re getting ready for summer reading,” Glass said. “This is a pseudo kickoff for our really busy season, so I have to see similar crowd sizes in the summer.”
